Misson

Developing strategies to enhance cognition in normal and disabled individuals.

Vision

The vision of HCEP is to develop high impact, implementable tools to understand the neural bases of cognition and cognitive deficits, and to develop cognitive performance solutions while simultaneously increasing our fundamental understanding of cognitive function. There are seven broad areas of research that represent current efforts in cognitive enhancement at Drexel. In each of these domains , there are teams of experts collaborating on basic, clinical, and translational studies.

Education

  • Supports training for students across various disciplines
  • Networking opportunities for students at all levels of training
  • Development of research tools and methodologies for measuring and optimizing decision making in the board room and effective teaching in the classroom
  • Under Development - Specialized undergraduate honors course(s) that integrates knowledge across disciplines: decision sciences, computational modeling, pedagogy and biology

Public Outreach

  • Cooperative efforts with community education
  • Collaborative research addressing social issues: 
    • concussions – diagnosis, treatment, and recovery
    • off-label use of psychostimulant drugs

Workshops & Seminars

  • Workshops and seminars given by leaders in the field of cognitive enhancement
  • Opportunities for networking and integrating across disciplines: biology, psychology, neuroscience, medicine

Focus Areas of Research

The Human Cognition Enhancement Program at Drexel University works to evaluate and integrate innovative technologies (i.e. virtual reality simulation, functional near infrared spectroscopy) by collaboration with industry, academia and government agencies. HCEP provides opportunity for research support and access to diverse research resources in many areas.

ADHD & Autism

  • Validation of computer based tools, EEG and imaging technologies (fNIR) to assess autism spectrum disorders.
  • Designing and developing virtual models to enhance interactive skills in autistic children.
  • Developing animal models to understand the underlying mechanisms of these disorders and evaluate emerging therapies.
  • Developing novel clinical tools to diagnose and evaluate new clinical treatment methods.

Human Factors in
Aviation & Aerospace

  • Developing models to evaluate and enhance performance during “aircraft upset and recovery”
  • Using fNIR, EEG to monitor brain function in stress environments.
  • Creating interdisciplinary training program in perception, physiology, cognition and engineering.

Functional Assessment
& Recovery from Brain Injury

  • Evaluating mild TBI (concussion) in student athletes; assessment of cognitive outcomes using psychological tools, driving simulation, and brain monitoring devices.
  • Developing and using blast injury model of TBI in rodents to understand the underlying mechanisms of injury and recovery.
  • Evaluating exercise and cognitive rehabilitation as co-treatments for concussion.

NeuroAids, Neurodegeneration
& Cognitive Decline

  • Developing, validating and studying animal models of Alzheimer’s disease.
  • Behavioral, neuroanatomical and electrophysiological assessment of brain function in animal models of neuroAIDS.
  • Use of psychostimulants for treatment of HIV/AIDS-related decline in cognitive function.

Decision Sciences & Pedagogy

  • Developing research tools and methodologies for measuring and optimizing decision making in the board room
  • Evaluating novel strategies for decision making using resources of the Baida Center for Entrepreneurship in Technology.

Pedagogy

  • Evaluating effects of fatigue and stress on academic performance in college students.
  • Identifying effective teaching strategies for the classroom.

Integration of Design Principles
& Cognitive Neuroscience

  • Considering cognition as it pertains to human performance in the workplace, at home, and in travel and entertainment
  • Optimizing learning through environment and gaming applications
  • Enhancing the quality of life through personal electronics design and information stream management

Technologies

  • Imaging and sensing.
  • Driving simulation.